The US Embassy in London entered a growing transatlantic controversy on the ideal cup of tea, refuting the contentious assertion made by American academic Michelle Francl that the perfect brew requires the addition of salt.
To reassure Britons that the outlandish notion was not official US policy, the embassy released a joking statement.
The embassy sent a lighthearted statement in reaction to Professor Francl’s alleged tea discovery, saying, “Today’s media reports of an American professor’s recipe for the ‘perfect’ cup of tea has landed our special bond with the United Kingdom in hot water.”
“Tea is the elixir of camaraderie, a sacred bond that unites our nations,” the statement claimed, highlighting the significance of tea as a unifying elixir between the nations.
The most controversial of the scientist’s unusual suggestions was to add a grain of salt to lessen bitterness. Other uncommon suggestions included using a short, hefty mug, keeping the tea bag in, and using warm milk to prevent curdling.
The intervention of the embassy was an attempt to diffuse the differing opinions among Britons, which ranged from indignation to amusement and revulsion.
The US embassy concluded the statement with a humorous aside, reiterating its dedication to the traditional method of brewing tea: “The US embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way – by microwaving it.” This playful conversation opens a new chapter in the long-running argument about how to brew the traditional British beverage.
